A long time ago, when the earth was green
And there was more kinds of animals than you’ve ever seen
They’d run around free while the world was being born
And the loveliest of all was the unicorn
There was green alligators and long-necked geese
There was hump-backed camels and there was chimpanzees
There was cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born
The loveliest of all was the unicorn
Well now God seen some sinnin’ and it caused him pain
And he says, “stand back, I’m going to make it rain”
He says, “hey, brother Noah, I’ll tell you what to do
Go and build me a floating zoo”
And you take two alligators and a coupla geese
You take two humpty-backed camels and two chimpanzees
You take two cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born
No, don’t you forget my unicorn
Well old Noah was there and answered the call
And then he finished up the ark just as the rain started fallin’
He marched in the animals two by two
And he called out as they went through
“Hey, Lord”
I got your two alligators a coupla geese
I got your humpty-backed camels and two chimpanzees
I got your cats and rats and elephants, but Lord, I’m so forlorn
‘Cause just don’t see no unicorn
Well Noah looked out through the driving rain
Them unicorns was hiding, playing silly games
They were kicking and splashing while the rain was pouring
Oh, them silly unicorns
Yeah two alligators a coupla geese
Two humpty-backed camels and two chimpanzees
Noah cried, “close the doors ’cause the rain is pourin’
And we just can’t wait for no unicorns”
Then the ark started movin’, and it drifted with the tide
Them unicorns looked up from the rock and cried
And the water come up and sort of floated them away
And that’s why you’ll never see a unicorn, to this day
You’ll see lots of alligators and a whole mess of geese
You’ll see plenty hump-backed camels, lotsa chimpanzees
You’ll see cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born
You’re never gonna see no unicorn
Shel Silverstein (1962)
The Unicorn – Shel Silverstein
